Storage system for a boat

Abstract

A boat including a hull, a floor supported within the hull and a storage region positioned beneath the floor. An opening is provided through the floor for accessing the storage region. The opening is covered by a hatch. A component carrier is positioned within the storage region. The component carrier rides along a guide structure that guides the component carrier between first and second positions within the storage region.

1 . A boat comprising: 
 a hull;    a front platform positioned within the hull;    a cockpit having a cockpit floor that is recessed relative to the front platform;    a lower storage region beneath the cockpit floor;    an opening provided through the cockpit floor for accessing the lower storage region;    a component carrier mounted within the lower storage region, the component carrier being movable between a rearward position wherein the component carrier is located beneath the opening and a forward position where the component carrier is located beneath the front platform.    
   
   
       2 . The boat of  claim 1 , further comprising a track structure for slidably mounting the component carrier within the storage region.  
   
   
       3 . The boat of  claim 2 , wherein the storage region is defined within the hull of the boat, wherein the track structure includes two generally parallel tracks secured to the hull of the boat, and wherein the component carrier includes edges captured between the tracks and the hull.  
   
   
       4 . The boat of  claim 1 , wherein the component carrier includes a battery tray.  
   
   
       5 . The boat of  claim 4 , further comprising a track structure for slidably mounting the battery tray within the storage region.  
   
   
       6 . The boat of  claim 5 , wherein the battery tray defines a through-hole sized for receiving a battery, and wherein a recessed region is provided beneath the battery tray for receiving a lower portion of the battery when the battery is placed in the through-hole to reduce the height the battery extends above the tray.  
   
   
       7 . The boat of  claim 6 , wherein the lower storage region is defined by the hull, wherein the track structure includes generally parallel tracks secured to the hull, and wherein the recessed region is located between the tracks and extends along a keel line of the hull.  
   
   
       8 . The boat of  claim 1 , further comprising a compartment positioned beneath the front platform, wherein the component carrier is located beneath the compartment when in the forward position.  
   
   
       9 . The boat of  claim 8 , wherein the component carrier defines at least one through-hole for receiving a battery, and wherein a recessed region is located beneath the component carrier for receiving a lower portion of the battery when the battery is placed in the through-hole to reduce the height the battery extends above the component carrier.  
   
   
       10 . The boat of  claim 9 , wherein the component carrier defines at least 2 through-holes for receiving batteries.  
   
   
       11 . The boat of  claim 9 , further comprising a track structure for slidably mounting the component carrier within the lower storage region.  
   
   
       12 . The boat of  claim 1 , wherein at least one deep cell battery is carried by the component carrier.  
   
   
       13 . The boat of  claim 12 , wherein at least 2 deep cell batteries are carried by the component carrier.  
   
   
       14 . The boat of  claim 12 , wherein the deep cell battery is wired to a voltage port located at a bow of the boat.  
   
   
       15 . The boat of  claim 14 , wherein the voltage port is part of an electric trolling motor power panel.  
   
   
       16 . The boat of  claim 12 , further comprising a track structure for slidably mounting the component carrier within the storage region.  
   
   
       17 . A boat comprising: 
 a hull;    a floor supported within the hull;    a storage region positioned beneath the floor;    a first opening provided through the floor for accessing the storage region;    a component carrier positioned within the storage region; and    a guide structure for guiding the component carrier between first and second positions within the storage region.    
   
   
       18 . The boat of  claim 17 , wherein the component carrier is located beneath the first opening when in the first position and is displaced from beneath the first opening when in the second position.  
   
   
       19 . The boat of  claim 17 , wherein the component carrier comprises a deep cell battery carrier.  
   
   
       20 . The boat of  claim 17 , wherein the guide structure includes first and second tracks secured to the hull.  
   
   
       21 . The boat of  claim 19 , wherein the component carrier includes at least one through-hole sized to receive a deep cell battery.  
   
   
       22 . The boat of  claim 17 , wherein the floor includes a raised floor and a recessed floor, the recessed floor being recessed relative to the raised floor, the first opening being defined through the recessed floor, and the first position of the component carrier being primarily beneath the recessed floor and the second position of the component carrier being primarily beneath the raised floor.  
   
   
       23 . The boat of  claim 22 , wherein the raised floor defines a second opening, and wherein the boat further comprises a compartment accessible through the second opening, the compartment including a bottom wall, the storage region extending beneath the bottom wall, and at least a portion of the component carrier being beneath the bottom wall when the component carrier is in the second position.  
   
   
       24 . The boat of  claim 17 , wherein the floor defines a second opening, and wherein the boat further comprises a compartment accessible through the second opening, the compartment defining a bottom wall, the storage region extending beneath the bottom wall of the compartment, and at least a portion of the component carrier being located beneath the bottom wall when the component carrier is in the second position.  
   
   
       25 . The boat of  claim 24 , further comprising at least one battery carried by the component carrier.  
   
   
       26 . The boat of  claim 25 , wherein the component carrier includes a through-hole for receiving the battery.